Metroid Prime: Federation Force Reviews

Metroid Prime: Federation Force is ranked in the 23rd percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
4 / 5.0
Aug 19, 2016

Metroid Prime: Federation Force isn’t what you expect when you think of a game carrying the Metroid name. It’s a more freeform experience that encourages you to gather together friends, either locally or online, and cooperatively carry out missions of varying degrees of complexity and difficulty. In the right conditions, it can be wonderful. Find at least one friendly face and you’ll make the galaxy a better place. But, space is cruel to those who choose to go it alone. If you know at least one other person who’ll join the force with you, say “Oorah” and head into battle.

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GamingBolt
Top Critic
6 / 10.0
Aug 26, 2016

Play Federation Force if you must, and you may even enjoy it- just know that while it's not too bad, it's not too good, either. And for a game carrying the Metroid label, that, perhaps more than anything else, is the worst crime that this game commits.

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3.5 / 5.0
Aug 27, 2016

Normally, I try to shy away from recommending games based on your ability to play with others, but it’s a necessity when it comes to Metroid Prime: Federation Force. If you’re planning on tackling it solo, Federation Force is a much tougher pill to swallow, with its prohibitive level of difficulty. On the other hand, if you have a friend or two who are willing to take the plunge with you, Federation Force can make for a good time, especially if you’re all playing together in the same space.

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4 / 5.0
Sep 12, 2016

Sure it’s not Samus but Metroid Prime Federation Force is actually quite a good game on the 3DS and if you’re looking for a challenge with some fun gaming mechanics, it would do you well to check out this title.

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NZGamer
Top Critic
4 / 10.0
Sep 20, 2016

Other M is no longer the worst Metroid game.

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7 / 10
Sep 25, 2016

Metroid Prime: Federation Force is an interesting idea and definitely not a bad game.

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7.6 / 10.0
Aug 27, 2016

It may not be the Metroid Prime sequel you were looking for, but if you keep an open mind and give it a shot, you're likely to be pleasantly surprised overall, especially if you have some friends to play co-op with.

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Sep 5, 2016

Though a serviceable enough intergalactic trip for anyone looking to play a multiplayer shooter on their 3DS, there's absolutely nothing memorable about this by-the-numbers entry into a hallowed franchise. The bite-sized missions lack balance, easily overcome with a quartet, frustratingly difficult done solo. The familiar action and time-worn objectives are quite playable, but the mediocre gameplay inspires little reason to return to the planet surface.

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6 / 10.0
Sep 6, 2016

Federation Force isn’t bad — especially when you factor in Blast Ball — but it’s not going to fill the hunger felt by most franchise fans. It doesn’t work as a single-player offering, and those who want to play with friends will need to exert ridiculous levels of willpower and patience to get games in. If you’re willing to give it a go with mates, synch things up ahead of time for the least amount of stress.

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8 / 10
Aug 19, 2016

We look forward to seeing what the future of this particular spin off holds, because as it stands right now Federation Force is an impressive and solid foundation; it's more than able to satisfy hardcore Metroid fans until the inevitable return of Samus Aran.

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Ray Carsillo
Top Critic
3.5 / 10.0
Aug 30, 2016

There is a core idea here that could’ve worked, but Metroid Prime: Federation Force is nothing short of a disaster due to horribly thought out implementation and shoddy execution.

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7 / 10.0
Aug 18, 2016

Hidden underneath the wonky control scheme and irreverent use of the source material, Metroid Prime: Federation Force is overall a good game, held back by limitations of the console as well as bizarre design choices. Fans of FPS’s will likely enjoy not only the experimentation the game has to offer, but also the fun you will find with friends.

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4.5 / 10.0
Aug 19, 2016

Metroid Prime: Federation Force is not a good game at all. When you find yourself just wanting to complete levels to see if the game ever changes and gets better, that’s a sign that something is very wrong. The core gameplay is simplistic, boring, and not the level of quality one would expect from a Metroid game. Other M may have been the most fan-derided Metroid game until now, but Federation Force will easily take the crown from here on out.

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Liked-a-lot
Aug 19, 2016
Metroid Prime: Federation Force - REVIEW (3DS) video thumbnail
7 / 10.0
Aug 23, 2016

Metroid Prime: Federation Force isn't really Metroid game, then. But if you can set aside your preconceptions of what Metroid game is, you'll find a more than competent first person shooter that’s fun to play - even if it is let down by some odd design decisions and a lack of checkpoints.

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3.5 / 5.0
Aug 19, 2016

Federation Force is a solid, polished addition to the Metroid franchise, though it admittedly is missing that “it” factor that makes the Metroid games with Samus Aran a great experience. Campaign co-op can be a blast thanks to fun mechanics and multiplayer hijinks while the Rocket League-style Blast Ball is an enjoyable diversion for sure. For players dead set on a new main-line Metroid title, though, the game might feel more like an appetizer instead of a main course.

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3.5 / 5.0
Aug 26, 2016

It may be a tough sell for the true devotees of the Metroid franchise, but Federation Force is a good game. Without the expectations of its title holding it back, I think it would have been a clear and easy win for Nintendo, and the fresh perspective on the setting, while divisive, still gives something new and entertaining.

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Aug 25, 2016

Metroid Prime: Federation Force is a bit of a sad way to celebrate the franchise's 30th anniversary — in making this entry so multiplayer-focused, Nintendo has ironically created an alienating experience.

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7 / 10.0
Aug 19, 2016

Federation Force is an arcade FPS, designed for portable environment, and for cooperative multiplayer. It's perfect to spend few hours of fun in the company of three other friends, but not so great for the Lone wolves.

Review in Italian | Read full review

5 / 10
Sep 14, 2016

Metroid Prime: Federation Force could have been a whole new entry in the Metroid Prime series but unfortunately its fine control system and variety of game modes (including online multiplayer) are not enough to save it from the overall lack of interest of its missions, lacklustre bosses (for the Metroid series, at least) and simply unfitting art style and visual environment.

Review in Portuguese | Read full review